TBM Staff - Mumbai The Intrepid Foundation, the non-profit arm of Intrepid Travel—the world’s largest adventure tourism provider—has launched Holy City Rickshaws to promote sustainable travel in Varanasi. This initiative features ten e-rickshaws operated by female drivers in partnership with ACCESS Development, a not-for-profit organization.
Holy City Rickshaw represents a significant step in Intrepid’s commitment to sustainable tourism and community empowerment, offering employment opportunities to women from low-income households.
The flag-off ceremony took place at IUCTE, Sundar Bagia, Naria-BLW Road, Varanasi, attended by notable figures including Rajendra Kumar Rawat, Deputy Director of the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, and Prof. Prem Narayan Singh, Director of IUCTE, BHU. Also present were Biheng Zhang, General Manager of The Intrepid Foundation, and Rama Mahendru, Country General Manager for Intrepid Travel in India.
Speaking on this, Mahendru, said, “The e-rickshaw initiative reflects Intrepid’s ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism and empowering women in the local community. The project aims to support greater female economic inclusion in India and we’re working hard to achieve balanced female tour leadership and enhance gender diversity. Today, women make up nearly 1/3 of our local team in India, and by 2025, we hope to double the number of tour leaders’ country-wide.”
Vipin Sharma, CEO of ACCESS Development Services, said, “The Holy City Rickshaw Project seeks to accomplish a three-pillared approach. It promotes women’s economic empowerment, builds their social capital by giving women an opportunity to own a part of the company, and supports the environment through the usage of electric rickshaws. Through this programme, we hope to accomplish the Prime Minister’s vision through the Lakhpati Didi scheme, facilitating economic empowerment for underprivileged households in the city.”
Zhang, added, “We’re always looking for ways to create real, lasting change, and The Holy City Rickshaw project does just that. Not only will it create new opportunities for women, but it helps promote sustainable travel and tourism in the region. We know that an investment in women has benefits that flow throughout the wider community and onto the next generation, and as we look forward, I’m excited about what this initiative will bring to both the women involved and the travellers who will get to experience Varanasi through their eyes.”
Headquartered in Australia, Intrepid Travel offers sustainable and immersive travel experiences across all seven continents, with a focus on enriching journeys that connect travellers with local communities.
